The International Academy of Mediators

Paul M. Lurie
Partner
Schiff Hardin LLP
7300 Sears Tower
Chicago, IL 60606

Phone: 312-258-5660
Email: plurie@schiffhardin.com

Over 40 years' experience as a negotiator, contract drafter teacher, advocate, trial attorney and neutral. Clients representation includes owner/developers, public agencies, architects, engineers, and contractors nationally and internationally. Adjunct Professor, North Central College, Naperville, IL, teaching courses on dispute resolution. Former Adjunct Professor at University of Illinois of Chicago, College of Art, Architecture, and Urban Design, teaching construction business law.

STYLE: Long time member of CPR's and AAA's Mediation Panels. My mediation style is to confidentially work with the attorneys prior to any public sessions to identify how the mediation process should be designed including the needs for information exchange, identification of stakeholders needing to be present, form of the session, the role of experts and personality issues. Most mediations are completed in one day. Style as facilitative or evaluative as the situation requires. I avoid polarizing opinions in public. Client participation and empowerment in the process is paramount. Settlements should be documented before the parties leave the mediation. My extensive experience as an AAA Large Complex Case arbitrator is useful in helping parties evaluate their positions when that is needed.

REPRESENTATIVE SUCCESSFUL MEDIATIONS: Commercial, multi-party, governmental and disputes involving insurance interests. Mediations have occurred prior to and after commencement of litigation. I have also successfully conducted mediations where all activity is by telephone with no public meetings.

Mediated a $3 million dispute between the major supplier of gas turbines for electric generators and a public utility concerning issues whether the turbines complied with contract and code requirements.

Mediated a $2 million dispute between electrical contractor, general contractor, hospital, and hospital's architect concerning change orders, coordination and delay-related damages. After one-day information exchange, mediation was completed.

Mediated $1 million dispute between public utility, piping contractor, and engineer concerning alleged defects in piping used for cooling of large fossil fuel electric generating plant. Mediation completed in one day.

Mediated a $2 million dispute between panel manufacturer and curtain wall prime contractor involving concerning contract compliance issues for a large Asian international airport, and a project involving a headquarters building for a Fortune 500 company.

Mediated a $1 million dispute between the general contractor and subcontractor involving construction of academic sports facility. Issues involved delays caused by site conditions. Mediation was completed in 1 1/2 days.

Mediated an $800,000 dispute between prime contractor, subcontractors, and State of Illinois Capital Development Board concerning delay, loss of efficiency, and change orders on multi-location prison projects.

Mediated $500,000 dispute between A/E and municipal owner of baseball park.

Mediated many cases involving local public entities, including State and local governments and school boards.

Mediated many disputes between owners and architects and engineer, owners and contractors and general contractors and subcontractors involving a wide range of dollars involved.

Admitted to the Bar: Illinois, 1965; U.S. District Court: Northern District of Illinois, 1965; Southern District of Michigan, 1996; U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals: Seventh (1965) and Sixth (1992) Circuits; U.S. Supreme Court, 1970.

American College of Construction Lawyers (Past Board of Governors;) American Bar Association (Forum Committee on the Construction Industry; Section of Litigation, Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution); Section of Alternative Dispute Resolution); Chicago Bar Association; Illinois Bar Association. International Academy of Mediators; College of Commercial Arbitrators.

Highest ratings from Chambers USA 2005, Number 1 ranking; Best Lawyers in America; Leading Lawyers of Illinois; Martindale Hubbell

PUBLICATIONS AND RELATED ACTIVITIES.

Editorial boards, CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS LAW REPORT, Federal Publications, Inc., 1993-present; JOURNAL FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF CONSTRUCTED FACILITIES, American Society of Civil Engineers, 1990-present;

"Why Commercial/Construction Mediations Succeed or Fail," American Bar Association, Section on Alternative Dispute Resolution, "The Power of ADR" Seminar, Washington, D.C., April 2001; "The New Revised Uniform Arbitration Act," JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION, January 2001; "Ethics and Mediation," ADR Currents, December 2000-February 2001; co-author, "Limitations on the Ability to Obtain Discovery in International Arbitration from Non-Parties Located in the United States," JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION, vol. 17, no. 3, June 2000; "Mediation as a Risk and Cost Control Tool," STRUCTURE, Summer 2000; "Factors Influencing a Successful Mediation," CONSTRUCTION LAWYER (American Bar Association Forum Committee), Volume 22, No.3, Summer 2002; "Arbitral Subpoena Powers and Prehearing Discovery," ADR CURRENTS, December 1999; "Removing Roadblocks to Arbitration," THE PUNCHLIST, vol. 22, no. 1, May 1999; "The Importance of Process Design to a Successful Mediation," THE PUNCHLIST, vol. 19, no. 4, Winter 1996/1997; co-author, ARBITRATION OF CONSTRUCTION DISPUTES, Wiley & Sons, 1990; "Computer Aided Mistakes," SOFTWARE LAW JOURNAL, vol. II, no. 3, Summer 1988.
References are available upon request. I do not charge for travel time.

IAM Member since 2003

Practicing in Illinois